Andrei Kirilenko once showed that his pace wasn't just limited to the basketball court. While playing for the Utah Jazz , the forward also took that speed to the streets when he got behind the wheel. However, as 'AK-47' later admitted, he went a bit too far while doing it.
“One time in Salt Lake City, I got up to 200 mph (about 322 km/h). It’s a good thing there were no police around. After that I realized that I have a wife and a baby. Now I don’t drive like that anymore,” Kirilenko remarked, per SLAM Magazine .
Kirilenko had some impressive cars
The Russian reportedly made over $100 million during his 13 seasons in the NBA. Naturally, with that kind of money, the former All-Star was able to purchase some impressive cars. Andrei owned several vehicles, including an Audi and a Porsche he reportedly bought as a rookie. The Porsche was particularly striking with its sleek silver paint, a fitting ‘AK-47’ license plate, and, of course, incredible speed. It's no wonder the 2005 Blocks leader couldn't resist testing that out on the highway, later remarking, “I like to drive fast. What Russian doesn’t love going fast?!”
Luckily, the now 43-year-old emerged unscathed from that drive. However, staying healthy was actually a different story during his career. The versatile 6’9’’ player often faced injuries. Especially after an impressive run in the mid-2000s, he began experiencing knee and wrist issues, later followed by back problems and once suffering from a severe head injury. These setbacks led to ‘AK-47’ being considered one of the biggest ‘what if’ prospects in NBA history.
Related: "I am more disappointed today than I was back when I was not selected" -Isiah Thomas on handshake snub as the reason he didn't make the Dream Team
NBA's notorious driving incidents
NBA players and fast cars often go together, and unfortunately, this sometimes involves questionable driving behavior. Many stories have highlighted this connection.
One former player who probably exemplifies this pattern the best is J.R. Smith. In 2007, the two-time NBA champ ran a stop sign, leading to the tragic death of a passenger, his friend. Since then, 'Henny God' has accumulated numerous traffic violations.
Another example is PJ Tucker. The defensive specialist faced brief jail time for a 'super extreme DUI' in 2014 . Tyreke Evans, the 2010 ROY, and former All-Star Chris Webber have also made headlines for reckless driving.
Recently, two current NBA players attracted negative attention for the same reason. First, Haywood Highsmith in February, followed by Hornets star LaMelo Ball, whose reckless driving compilation went viral, sparking baffling reactions.
However, Kirilenko stands out from these names. Although his joyride was a bit excessive, he quickly understood the seriousness of the situation, and what began as a one-time incident apparently stayed that way.
Related: “I almost died” - Goran Dragic describes the hellacious ride Chris Andersen gave him to training camp
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